Images from 2007

Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Camping for five days in Michigan's Upper Peninsula has really been the highlight of our vacation.

Our first night was spent on Higgins Lake. The boys had a blast swimming in the lake! Yes, swimming in September!






We had a small crisis when Arlo ate a small part of a mysterious mushroom and we ended up in the Grayling ER! He's fine, however, and the mushroom was deemed non-toxic. You can see the dirty hazards of camping as a crawler!

Our second and third nights we stayed at Taquamenon Falls State Park.
We met a lovely family from Wisconsin with two kids near Sam's age and did lots of hiking...

Our final night was spent near the beach on Lake Superior. It was beautiful! Aside from the nasty stable flies chasing us up and down the beach, it was the perfect camping spot.

Socks...a Labor of Love

A father-son project....I started knitting Matt's socks (the grey and red striped, if it isn't obvious) while pregnant with Arlo. I finished one sock while still preggo and the other while in the hospital with my mother. Sam was fascinated by the project and asked for a pair "just like Daddy's" only he requested them to be red. So, here you see the final results. They have been completed for some time now and I am currently knitting another pair of socks with this great cotton/rayon blend yard I found at a yard sale. It is very irregular and is turning out to knit a great texture. I may actually keep these...well, we'll see. I have a hard time keeping the projects I knit. I always find a soul that is worthy of a beautiful hand knit gift...

Self-Portraits by Sam

My 9 Month Old...

With all this moving jazz, I haven't posted about Arlo's 9 month well-baby visit...boy was it an eye-opener!

He now weighs 25 pounds! A whopping 5 pounds heavier than at his 6 month visit! He is 28" long and his head was 18+" around. He's a porker! We've always known that though....

He is now signing "all done", "more" and sometimes "milk". He'll wave "bye-bye" randomly and he says "mama" when crawling to me. Sometimes the "mama" is interspersed with cries or whines and doesn't sound as cute as it does sad!
He is cruising everywhere and trying to climb from a standing position! He can successfully climb up stairs and is beginning to figure out that going feet first off the couch or bed is best.

He plays so well with Sam and tonight they entertained each other for about 20 minutes while I finished cooking dinner. It was so nice.

Eight teeth strong and another making a push, though I can't tell which one it will be. He's been fussy the last few days and I am pretty sure it is due to the tooth.

He loves to swing and be helped to slide down the slide....he's just so cute!

Michigans

After almost 3 full days here, I guess we're Michigans! Yikes. Actually it feels really good to be here...and a little like I am on vacation and playing house. Surreal.

We're all adjusting well, but definitely adjusting. I thought the first few nights went too well...we were all so exhausted there was no time to show any emotion. Now after a few nights, the boys are surely feeling it and so am I. The time zone difference and new environment is making for rough bedtimes. Sam is scared to go to sleep on his own and I know we need to honor it. So we've been doing all that we can to help him feel safe as he falls asleep. Once he's down, he's out for the night, but the going down has been rough. I know it will get better with time. I am thankful Matt is here is to help and doesn't have to get up to go to work in the mornings.

We went on a sweet walk in the woods today and it was a great introduction to Michigan. Fall is showing it's face and the air is cool and crisp and the leaves are just beginning to change. The house is slowly beginning to look like a home, though temporary with most of our belongings still in boxes in the basement...and they will remain there until the final move.

We've been doing some exploring by car and looking for any houses on the market that might interest us. It has been fun.

So, there you have it. A Michigan. I think we'll really enjoy living here once we settle in....however long that will take.

Moving

I am finally getting a chance to sit down at the computer. It has been very hectic here...

The house is packed up and our stuff will arrive in Lansing tomorrow morning. Matt, Sam, Cyrus, and Betsy; after a night in Missoula, nowhere, N.D., and then Madison, will arrive in Lansing this early evening. Matt reports that Sam is doing well, but is getting VERY bored of the drive!

Meanwhile, I have been cleaning the house (a bigger job than I had expected), running last minute errands and trying to see all of my closest friends somewhere in the middle of all that. I am having fun, but am getting very tired of all the running round.

I am staying with my dear friend Karin and it has been lovely. A couple great nights and mornings together with some quality time to talk and knit. Great memories.

So, I'll be in Lansing with Arlo tomorrow night and will update next week with pictures of everything!

I am so glad we're almost done with this move!